Purpose

So I am one of those bloggers who pretty much abandoned her blog for a while. Why, you ask? Well, one reason is that I just got busy with life and raising three kids plus dealing with all the fun that chronic illness throws at me each day.
Honestly though, the main reason was I just couldn't figure out what the focus of my blog was. When I started, I wanted to get my story out there and write about my life with chronic illness. I wanted to bring awareness to the conditions. I wanted to share information I had learned. I wanted to give someone struggling with one of these conditions some hope. I wanted my blog to be a place for someone to find my story and feel less alone as they walked through theirs.
When I first found out I had Chiari Malformation 3 1/2 years ago, I searched endlessly online for other people's stories about having this condition. And the ones that I found helped me so much!

But, after blogging on and off for a while, I really began to question my purpose. I thought, maybe I shouldn't make my blog all about chronic illness. I mean who wants to read about that all the time? Is that too depressing? Should I bring more "fun" into my blog? Maybe sometimes I should try to be one of those "fun" bloggers. You know the ones who have those upbeat posts about the great books they read, fun crafts they made, great outfits they wore, awesome food they cooked. I love to read those!

While I truly knew my purpose when I started, I didn't have the confidence to stick to that. Confidence is always something I've struggled to have in my life. The negative things that play through my head tell me things like, "No one will want to read your blog." And, "Your story will not matter to any one." And, especially this one, "You're no good as a blogger." 

I didn't have the confidence to be the real me. To put myself out there. 

But, then I've gotten comments and emails from people saying that what I have written, my story,  helped them. 

I was so grateful to hear this! If I can truly help even just one person through this, then that will be my greatest accomplishment in sharing my story.  

Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago, when several things I read/listened to gave me a new revelation. A new outlook on what my purpose is as a person living with chronic illness and as a blogger. From this new outlook came a confidence that I hadn't had before. I believe that when you are clear on your purpose in something, the negative things begin to take a backseat to all the positive things you are hoping to do.
I have realized that my purpose truly is to do those very things that I started out wanting to do.
I want to reach out to others who are living with the same conditions as well as others whom are living with any physical illness.
I want to raise awareness for the conditions I struggle with because they are not well known, well understood, well researched.
I want to help everyone understand what life is like when you have "invisible illness" and how to relate to people with any illness whether visible or invisible. We all just need to be kind to one another! Every one has a burden they are carrying. Every one has a story. A kind word, a smile go such a long way in brightening the day of another person!
I am not supposed to be anyone else but me.
I need to be real about my life.
I need to share the good and the bad. 

God has allowed these physical conditions in my life and I know he wants me to use them to help others. And that is just what I hope to do!

I know this post was long but I wanted to share where I've been and what is on my heart with you.
Thank you for reading!

Blessings,
~Sonya